Where did my inbox go?

Question

Level 1

21 points

Where did my inbox go?

Using Apple Mail on my work computer, I pull messages off the server and put them in an inbox on my Mac, and this inbox, and all the subfolders it has is visible on the sidebar under "On my Mac". Today, while working in mail, I don't know what I did but the inbox on my Mac on the sidebar is missing. If I "go to inbox" it goes to the inbox on my server. I know all my messages have to still be on my computer because I have a smart folder of flagged messages and they're all there, with their locations listed as inbox or one of my subfolders...but how do I get all that back to the sidebar so I can access my mail? I don't know what I did...

Rocketman

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 27, 2010 12:13 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 27, 2010 12:28 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon

Quit Mail then restart it. See if the mailbox returns. If not you can try doing a Rebuild (select it from the Mailbox menu.)

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Answer 2

Rocky Rakoon Author

Level 1

21 points

Mar 27, 2010 1:22 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon

Thanks for that suggestion. I quit Mail and restarted, the inbox is still not there. I'm trying to figure out the rebuild thing...it's grayed out unless I select a folder, and I can't see my inbox folder to highlight it so I can rebuild...what am I missing?

Rocketman

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 27, 2010 1:36 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon

I'm not sure. Look in /Home/Library/Mail/Mailboxes/. Do you see an Inbox? Did you create this inbox yourself just to have a local copy of your email? If so, then create a new local mailbox named Inbox and then copy everything from the real Inbox on the server. BTW, Mail does keep all the headers for your mail in a local database.

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Answer 4

Rocky Rakoon Author

Level 1

21 points

Mar 27, 2010 1:46 PM in response to Rocky Rakoon

Well, you're a lifesaver, Kappy. By looking at the mail folder in my library, I was able to determine that I had apparently inadvertently through clicking and dragging, put my inbox into another folder on the sidebar. I've been able to move it out and all is well now. Whew! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Rock

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